The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-03
TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY.
SOMETHING OF THE HISTORY OF
THE STATES HIGH SCHOOL.
Increased Attendance Due to the
Chance Now Available for a
Technical Education.

University OF TENNESSEE, KNOX.
WILLIE, February 2.-The University oil
Tennessee, or "Blount College," as 1t
was first called, was founded in the
year 1894. When first chartered as
Blount College it occupied another
position than it now occupies, and
then it was in the city OF Knoxville,
1t was not until 1925, sixty.one years
ago, that it was moved to the emf
nence but Just outside the corpora
ton of the city of Knoxville. The
hill was then known as Barbara hill,
called so in honor of Gov. Blount's
daughter. 1t was in 1910 that its
name, East Tennessee College, was
changed by act OF Congress to E ist
Tennessee University, which last it
bore until 1879, when it was again
changed, this time to University OF
Tennessee, which name, as everybody
knowe, it now bears. The Legislature
also bssto we'd upon it, with its various
names, the proceeds to be derived
from the sale of certain public lands
in the State Of Tennessee. The uni
versity lost the lands by allowing emf
grants to settle upon them and take
them for nothing, and so, after time,
they found their lands gone and no. a
cent to show for ii. That is
one reas IN OF its present poverty
The university in tbs year 1886 had
fallen 30 low, both in numbers of at
tendance and in public popularity
that SONS thing had to bs done, or it
soon would have persisted. The Ca
diets in the month OF December, 1886,
did not exceed ninety five, while in
the days of prosperity, as late as
1878, they numbered 800, more or
lese. 1t was then in 1885, that the
Legislature began to realize that they
must do something, 80 they set about
planning Workshop, and concluded
to send Prof. L. O. Carter "off" to
learn how to work with tools that he
might superintend the workshop, 30
he was accordingly sent to Perdue,
Ind, his expenses aid and his salary
continued. He returned in Deem
Der, the workshop built and Prof.
Carter appointed to take charge of it..
The number OF students began imme-
diately to increase, though many of
the old ones did not return after
Christmas. The members of the Logis.
lature were becoming interested. They
began to insist on making appoint.
ments and to recommend the echool.
AT this time February, 1887 there are
about 100 young men attending, and
of these twenty-five are new students,
or those entering since the Christmas
holidays. Most OF them will tell you
that they came only on being almo st
forced by their Representative to re-
ceive their appointments. Next week
we are expecting committee from the
Legislature to investigate the affairs Of
the university. But these committees
generally see but little Of the real
state OF affairs. They usually get
blinded by the attention shown them,
and invariably make good report on
returning.
Let us look at the University farm
as it is seen by those familiar with it's
affairs. 1t is here that the expert
mental station of Tennessee is located !;
it is here that many dollar of public
money is expended annually with no
good resulting therefrom. The cadets
care nothing about the farm; scarcely
any of them ever visit, and still fewer
ever work there. They manure heavily
and then compete with the neighboring
farmers, who delve for livelihood, in
selling its products. They annually
publish report, OF experiments tried,
bat this does very little good, compar-
atively speaking. They expend too
much and secure too little. The
workshop is almost new. One part is
used for mechanical drawing, and the
other in teaching students all manner
OF plain and fancy workmanship with
the tools of carpenter. The tools
used are the very best on the market.
They are being taught how to use
every tool, from the hammer to the
scroll saw, from the jack plane TO the
lathe. Those being instructed, and
there are many tskingit have already
completed several very perfect pieces
of furniture, such as boxes, gates, ia
bles, malIets and doors. This is under
the very excellent management of
Prof. L. @. Garter, a graduate Of the
University of Tennessee. Let US now
examine the laboratory, under Prof.
Moses, chemist and instructor, q
graduate Of this university. Students
have a splendid field for acquiring
chemical knowledge Though it is well
managed, this work is only under
taken by a few students, not one
third 80 many as might participate.
The faculty, Col. Crawford, chair
man, hold mseting twice week
and discuss matters relating to the
university and to the cadets. This
body has several good members like
their able chairman, though some
very poor ones Indeed. The two lit
erary societies are about the best fea-
lures of thu university. They have
been the direct means of developing
some OF the very best orators and de-
baters the State has produced. They
eacb publish q journal (monthly) OF
their own. The military department
is not particularly good. Il is not
strict and pure enough. Too much
favoritism is shown, and then punish
ment is not fixed, it is very uncertain.
B. AL OuOhOcA mhy 10 PuhlbuOu dhh
then he may not be. Col. Crawford,
O graduate of the institution, has
charge OF this branch.
The health and scenery are indeed
fine here. The health could not be
better. The air is pure and vivifying
and the near and distant mountai ms
afford a delightful view. The river
flows by only q few hundred yards
from the "Hill."
The departments OF mathematics are
very we'll taught indeed. Prof Craw-
ford has charge Of the lower branches
and Prof. Carson Of the more advanced.
Prof Carson is highly educated man
and fully able to teach those branches
which fall to him.
There is no gymnasium connected
with the university, nor is elocution
or penmanship taught. The classical
departments have very good instruct
ors in the persons Of Prof. Karnes and
W. l, Thomas, both former graduates
OF this school.
The agricultural department is su-
perintended by Prof. ]. W. Glenn, an
earnest worker for the everlasting